Select inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, or neither.

if mary is older than bill and bill is older than frank, then mary is older than frank.

inductive reasoning
deductive reasoning
neither

The answer is deductive reasoning. The deductive reasoning refers to a type of reasoning that starts from the general to go to the particular, deducting or inferring conclusions through certain premises. It is the type of reasoning most used in mathematics.

taking into account that a theme is the central topic a text treats and can be developed through a story, play, poem etc. the following are themes that can be further developed:  

my best friend jeffrey has many unusual interests. (the story could be about each of the unususal interests)

once a man gives his soul over to evil, he can never go back. (this could be a saying or a proverb)

the three sheepdogs lay around the yard all day. (it could be developed detailing how each of these sheepdogs lay around)

a priest's collar has an unusual effect upon people. (it could be developed detailing the different effect upon people)

innocence is a powerful force in a world full of corruption. (it could be developed detailing how is a world full of corruption)

king lear is a play shakespeare wrote later. (it is just a sentence and doesnt give any idea or topic to be discussed in details.

evil often wears the disguise of innocence. (this could be a saying or a proverb)

you need to include the text. we have no idea what you are referring to